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ABC Perth takes out Breakfast radio crown in last radio ratings for 2021

Stephanie McKenna and Rangi HiriniThe West Australian
The last radio ratings survey of 2021 has been released and ABC Perth has not only knocked 6PR out the park but outperformed the most popular FM stations.
Camera IconThe last radio ratings survey of 2021 has been released and ABC Perth has not only knocked 6PR out the park but outperformed the most popular FM stations. Credit: Supplied

ABC Perth radio may not yet have a permanent replacement for beloved morning host Russell Woolf - but the latest radio survey shows West Australians turned to the national broadcaster in grief following his shock death.

ABC Perth has overtaken Nova FM in the morning timeslot, with Woolf’s former show Breakfast jumping a massive 2.5 points to claim the No. 1 spot.

And it means the program leads its talk rival 6PR by a massive 3.1 points.

However, the Nine-owned station has taken the overall lead, beating the ABC by 0.5 points.

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Stan Shaw, ABC presenter
Camera IconStan Shaw, ABC presenter. Credit: Unknown/ABC

ABC Perth’s Breakfast won four out of the eight surveys of 2021 for the AM stations, monstering 6PR’s rival morning program with Gareth Parker.

The rocketing ratings come as ABC Perth is yet to confirm a permanent replacement for Woolf, who died in October.

Breakfast has been filled by Stan Shaw since Woolf’s death but an announcement on a permanent host is expected to be made before the next survey in January.

The West Australian previously revealed the short list of those rumoured to be in the running to present Aunty’s prized breakfast slot.

Alongside Shaw, names being bandied around included The West Live’s Ben O’Shea, Flashpoint host Tim McMillan, former Channel 10 newsreader Craig Smart, ABC24 evening news host Michael Tetlow, barrister and regular ABC radio contributor Linda Black and former ABC TV newsreader Deb Kennedy.

2021 | SWM Socials - Nova's Best Friends and Boyfriends Soiree with Kate Walsh at Rambla On Swan on October 29th, 2021. Photo - Nathan, Nat & Shaun - Picture: Alan Chau - The West Australian.
Camera IconNathan, Nat & Shaun. Credit: Alan Chau/The West Australian

While ABC Perth dominated breakfast overall, Nova’s rival show with Nathan Morris, Nat Locke and Shaun McManus continued to top the leaderboard for FM stations in the slot with 12.7 points.

They were followed by MIX 94.5 on 12.1 points and 96FM on 8.9 points.

But they could have competition in the New Year as MIX94.5’s breakfast program with Pete Curulli, Kymba Cahill and Matt Dyktynski gained an impressive 1.2 points.

While Nova’s breakfast show dipped 0.4 points in the latest survey, it won every other rating analysis for 2021, cementing its place as the gold standard of Perth breakfast programs.

Overall, Nova continues to dominate as Perth’s top-performing radio station with 12.6 points, unchanged from the previous survey.

96FM had a 0.7 points fall in its overall audience share to 10.7 points in the first radio ratings since the departure of its managing director Gary Roberts.

The lowest performing FM station was 92.9 Triple M, falling 0.6 points overall.

But the station’s breakfast show with Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, The West Australian’s Jenna Clarke and former AFL star Xavier Ellis didn’t lose any ground, remaining on 5.8 points in the battle of the breakfast shows.

The 2022 radio ratings survey period starts on January 16, with the results out on March 10.

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